Dental care becomes important for children from the moment they’re born. Did you know that, typically, all of a child’s primary teeth are already there below the gums at birth? It’s important to start good dental hygiene practices early, and continue them throughout childhood. That’s why pediatric dentistry is of the utmost importance to children.
Why Is Pediatric Dentistry Important?
As a child develops, it’s important to keep their teeth in good condition. It’s true the primary — baby — teeth will eventually fall out.
However, those teeth are still prone to all the things that can affect their adult teeth later. That means children still need to worry about cavities, gum disease, and other problems that can affect their teeth and gums.
In addition, the primary teeth serve to guide in the adult teeth. If the primary teeth come in crooked, misaligned, or not at all, then it can lead to several complications for the adult teeth.
Pediatric dentistry can help to keep a child’s gums and teeth in good condition. It will also help to spot and mitigate issues before they grow into larger problems later.
Is Pediatric Dentistry Necessary for All Children?
Seeing a dentist is a lifelong requirement to help maintain dental health. You should bring your child into a pediatric dentist by the time they reach their first birthday. Otherwise, you should definitely do it after their first tooth comes in.
From there, it’s important that you establish routine checkups for your child that should never stop until they’re of an age to choose their own dentist. Although, by that time, they’ll likely want to continue seeing the family dentist they grew up with.
What Happens During Visits to a Pediatric Dentist?
Don’t worry, in most cases, a visit to a pediatric dentist doesn’t take long, and it’s not uncomfortable for you or your child. In general, the visit will involve an examination and discussion.
In fact, early visits are just as much for the parent or guardian as they are for the child. It’s a good time to learn more about how to best take care of your child’s teeth, and what level of dental development your child is currently at.
It’s also a great time for asking questions. Are you concerned about your child’s thumb-sucking? Do you have questions about how bottles and pacifiers can affect your child’s teeth? Your child’s dental appointment is the perfect time to ask.
The nature of the visit can vary depending on a child’s issues or lack thereof. If you’re scheduling a visit because your child has a toothache, broken tooth, or missing tooth, the visit will center around dealing with the specific issue.
Why Lodi Valley Dental Is a Great Choice for Pediatric Dentistry
At Lodi Valley Dental, our staff and dentists have a proven history of caring and gentle pediatric dental care. Adequately treating children’s dental health requires both expertise and delicacy. It’s never too early or late to set up an appointment for your child’s dental care. If you have any questions about your child’s dental health, contact us today.